When you think of the most common issues someone would see a chiropractor for, the first things to come to mind are probably back pain, neck pain, hip pain, shoulder pain… Pain being the operative word here tying everything together. These are issues that have to do with bones, joints, and the nervous system. 

But what about the digestive system?

Feelings of constipation, bloat, gassiness, pressure in the stomach… These are also issues that may insight pain in the body. We don’t typically think of a chiropractic adjustment as being something that could help, but — we should. 

The digestive system is responsible for how food and drink move in and out of our body. It’s made up of four parts: the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and most importantly, the  gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which is made up of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus. All of these organs have specific functions that essentially turn food into fuel that our bodies need for survival. It’s also responsible for how we naturally discard waste during a bowel movement. 

In short, the digestive system plays a pretty important role in how we maintain healthy, bodily function in our daily lives. When it is not working right, it can cause a lot of discomfort, problems and sometimes pain. 

If chiropractic care is primarily focused on the nervous system/neuro-musculoskeletal system, how can it help with these ailments that are affecting the digestive system? 

The nervous system is essentially the central control center of our bodies, meaning it controls everything we do — including how we digest food. If there is a subluxation or interference present in the nervous system, there is a chance it could be affecting the digestive system as well. Once that misalignment (or interference in the brain-body connection) is taken care of during a chiropractic adjustment, the nervous system can begin to do its job correctly again and better send signals to the digestive system to get it back on track.

In addition to a chiropractic adjustment, there are lifestyle changes that can be made in order to help prevent future digestive issues from arising. Make sure to drink enough water throughout the day to move food along in your system. Exercise also helps with this.

Eating a well-balanced diet that is high in fiber is also beneficial. Fiber promotes regular bowel movements, which is crucial to a healthy digestive system. Add a probiotic to your daily supplement routine. Probiotics balance the good and bad bacteria to support gut health. Last, but not least, find ways to manage your stress and anxiety. Believe it or not, but stress can be directly related to gut issues.

At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, your favorite family chiropractor in Plantation, we see patients for so many different reasons, one of them being digestive relief. We have heard very often from patients that when they keep up with chiropractic care, they are experiencing less gassiness, less bloating, and are able to have bowel movements much more easily. This doesn’t only apply when constipated adults come to see us. In fact, one of the top two things that parents report back after their babies and kids receive their first chiropractic adjustment, is “they poop better!” Dr. Gena always likes to say “if you are eating every day, then you should be excreting every day. If this is not ‘normal’ for you, schedule an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation. Nervous system function is something that should be assessed along with lifestyle changes.”

Don’t ignore the signs of a digestive issue. If the problem continues to get worse, make sure to seek the proper medical care so it doesn’t turn into something more serious down the road. Chiropractic care is a great place to start if you are constantly experiencing constipation, bloating, or having excess gas. 

Sometimes, all you need is a spinal/chiropractic check-up to boost circulation and blood flow to get things moving, and most importantly functioning better. Remember, your health is in your hands; our hands are here to help. Call our office at 954-417-5815 to schedule an appointment.